Austria: Authorities ban travelers from Italy due to COVID-19 March 10 /update 3

Event

On Tuesday, March 10, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz announced that Austria will institute health checks at its border with Italy and deny entry to travelers from Italy to prevent further spread of the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Exceptions will be made for commercial transport, people passing through Austria without stopping, travelers with a valid health certificate from Italy, and those who have accommodations where they can spend 14 days in isolation. The decision comes after Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Monday, March 9, that travel restrictions would be imposed across Italy amid the COVID-19 outbreak, ordering citizens to stay at home and not move except for work and emergencies and banning all public gatherings until April 3.

Austria has also banned indoor events of more than 100 people and outdoor events of more than 500 people starting Wednesday, March 11, until early April, and university lectures will be canceled from Monday, March 16.

To date, there have been over 180 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Austria. Further international spread of the virus is expected over the coming days and weeks.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the risk of spread and the risk of impact of the virus is "very high" at the global level.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation, confirm travel itineraries, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.

Advice To reduce the general risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue; throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider.

Travelers returning from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.